Improvement in dredging apparatus



ZSheets-Sheet1. W. H. NEWTON. A DREDQING APPARATUS.

Na. 175,575. Patented April 4, 1876.

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N-FETERS. PNOYO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C

2 Sheets-$heet2. W. vH. NEWTON.

DREDGIN'G APPARATUS.

$1 ,175,575, Patented April 4, 1876.

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A'r'rss-ri in INVENTEI'R! N PETERS, PHOYO LlTHOGRAPNER, WASHKNGTON, Dv C.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Prior.

' WILLIAM H. NEWTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN DREDGI NG APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,575, dated April 4,1876; application filed January 31,1876.

of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook.

and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dredging Apparatus,

of which the following is a specification The present invention relates to an apparatus for deepening the beds of harbors and.

water-channels, and for excavating peat; and

its nature consists, first, in the novel constructionof mechanism for combining a-force-pump with a vacuum-pump, for the purpose of giving to the latter a positive movement of the valves. For raising water the ordinary forcepump answers the purpose; but for dielging, where stone are to be taken up through the suction-pipe, the vacuum is too imperfectly attained; consequently there is a great waste ofpower. By means of my combined improvement I get a vacuum almost perfect, whereby I am enabled to elevate any bowlder or stone which will pass through the suctionpipe and vacuum-pump, wholly independent Second, in a suspended suction-pipe, which is hung to hollow horizontal arms communicating, respectively, with the vacuum-pump cylinders, and arranged to operatethrough a well-hole in a boat or scow; third, in springs combined with a suspended telescopic suction-pipe, whereby the pipe may have an easy bearing on the bed of the channe1,and accommodate itself to the oscillation of the surface of the water, the rocking of the boat, and to different depths of water; fourth, in an ejection and force pipe nozzle, provided with a central helical plate, whereby the stream has given to it a rotary motion around its own axis for better disintegrating the earth fifth, in a telescopic pipe provided with rubber-ring rollers between its sections, to prevent the passage of air or water, and, to keep out sand or earth.

In the drawings, Figure 1, Sheetfi'], represents a side elevation of my improved apparatus, taken transversely to a boat or scow. Fig.2, a top view thereof; Fig. 3, aplan view of one balance-valve and its shaft, shown double the size as compared with Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cylinder for in-v closing the balance-valve, removed from its case. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved apparatus, showing, also, a transverse section of a boat or scow, with valves removed for clearness. Fig. 6, a plan view of the valve-cylinder, taken one-quarter round on its periphery from the view of the same cylinder shown at Fig. 4, Sheet 1; also double size. Fig. 7, a longitudinal section of one balance in it's cylinder, showing also the exterior case enlarged two diameters; Fig. 8, a transverse section of the force-pipe nozzle enlarged four diameters, from Figs. 1 and 5; Fig. 9, a transverse section of the telescopic suction-pipe, on line 90, Fig. 5; Fig. 10, a view of one of the rubberring rollers removed; Fig. 11, a transverse section through Fig. 7, on line 2.

A represents the cylinders of a vacuumpump, which are provided with check-valves K K, Fig. 5, placed on the innerinclined ends of horizontal sleeve-pipes J, which communicate with the cylinders, and with a suction pipe, N N. P

The discharge-pipes at the bottom of the cylinders are shown at a a, and they communicate with a valve-box, d, in which the valves are hung, to close the ends of the pipes a, as indicated by dotted lines 9, Fig. 2. The discharge-pipe leading from valve-box d is made. flexible by joints, as shown at Fig. 2,or otherwise, so asto convey material elevated to any place desired. The balance-valves consist of two hollow cylinders, 10, arranged to turn in stationary cylinders I. On the periphcry of these cylinders are formed ribs 1 3 4 5, between which are countersunkspaces 2, Figs. 4 (i 7 l1, and therearc near their ends formed annular channels 7 8 for the passage of steam from the balance-valve in one cylinder and the passage of water in the other.

Each cylinder I has four ports, a, and each balance-valve 10 has two parts, 6, and the cylinders I have each a port, 6, for the induction of steam or water, and in the ends of the cylinders 10 are ports 15, that steam or. water may pass through to the ends of cylinders I and balance them, as shown in Figs. 7 and 11,

and to admit water or steam to the interior of the valves.

The operation of the valve 10 and the cylinders I is such that the two ports 6 are brought opposite to two of the four ports n in the cylinder I to make a discharge, there being four discharges at each revolution of the valve 10. The object of the recesses-2, channels 7 and 8, and ribs 1 3 4 5 on cylinders I is to direct .the discharge of ports a alternately into one or the other of the vacuum-cylinders A, as the case may require, to attain a nearly perfect vacuum, by an alternate jet of steam and water into the cylinders.

B represents a water-pipe communicating with one cylinder, A, and with one valve,"10, the water-pipe for communicating with the other valves and cylinder being shown at B, the steam-pipes communicating with the c'ylinders and valves being shown at O O. The cylinders I are inclosed in steam-tight cases 6 e, which are coupled together at 12, Fig. 2. The valves' 10 are fast to shaft 9, and to the latter are fixed gear-wheels F F, which mesh into each other. A lever, G, is fitted to turn on one shaft, g, and to it is pivoted a dog, H, with projecting ends to engage the gear. A rod, W, connects the lever G with an elbowlever, V, which is pivoted to the bridge U fastened to sleeves J.

The lower end. of this lever is connected to the piston-rod of a force-pump, X, so as to have an oscillating. motion, by means of which the lever G is made to bscillate and carry the dog H to turn the gear F, and thus rotate the valve 10 to take and discharge water or steam, as may be required. The rod WV is adjustable on lever V by a sleeve and setscrew, I), Fig. 1, so that the length of time for opening the ports 1?. and 6 may be controlled by the operator. or

By ch an gin g the relative position of the cogs of one gear-wheel on the other, the time for producing a vacuum may be varied. The water-pipe 14, for condensing purposes, commit. nicates with the force-pump :20 and valve 10 by means of a port, i, Fig. 6. The steampipe E comes fromthe boiler and communicates with the other valve 10 by means of a port similar to i. V

The volume of condensing water may be varied by the pressure in pump a, and the volume of steam in the cylinders may be controlled by a globe-valve or other well-known means; 7

The suction-pipeconsists of a double elbow, L M, Figs. 1 4, 5, arranged to rotate in sleeves J. The smaller part N of suction-pipe springs c c, which allow section N to move freely on section N, and a pipe, 0', to accommodate itself to different depths of water, to the oscillation of the surface water, and to the rocking of the boat. R Q represent ejectionpipes which take their water from force-pump.

X to disintegrate the earth, but are not claimed in this specification.

The nozzle Q is provided with a central helical or twisted plate, T, Fig. 8, to give to the water a rotary motion on its own axis, better to disintegrate the earth.

The apparatus can be applied to the bow of a river or channel boat, and the. ejecting-pipes may be operated by the boiler-supply engine, and the vacuum-pumps operated by steam from the boiler, so as to remove sa'ndbars, which would otherwise ,obstruct navigation.

In such case the suction and exhaust pipes would hang over the rail of the boat, instead of passing through a well-hole.

I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of the vacuum-pumps A A, with force-pump at, having valves 10 10, cylinders I I, depending suction-pipe N N, and sleeves J J, and double elbow L M, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The suctionpipe N N M, combined with sleevesJ J, so as to operate between the vacuum-pumps, as described.

. 3. The combination of the sections N N of the suction-pipe with the springs c c, substantially as described and shown.

4. The combination of the suction-pipe N N with the rubber-ring rollers O 0, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The ejection-pipe nozzle for dredging, in combination with the helical plate, as set forth.

. WILLIAM H. NEWTON.

Witnesses:

O. H. ADIX, G. L. GHAPIN. 

